Fwd: Leaves are Red, the Boys in Blue, and Stories for You

Date: Mon, Nov 17, 2014 at 11:57 AM

Subject: Leaves are Red, the Boys in Blue, and Stories for You
To: Lindy Taylor <lindyjtaylor@gmail.com>

Yall!

Georgia is BEAUTIFUL. We drove through a tiny town, Maxeys, and I could not put my camera down. I'll share a few of my favorite pictures.

This week, we've been cleansing our teaching pool. We've been working with a lot of people, for a long time, who were doing really well. Then they all stopped doing really well at the same time. It seems the Lord has cleared our plate and has others for us to find! So this week, as much as we are able, we are dedicating time to tracting and prayerful finding so we can find those prepared by the Lord. We did have some wonderful people come to church and great people are everywhere in this rich, gospel-ready area. :)

I had a neat experience with the gifts of the Spirit this week. There is a promise in a scripture found in D&C 84:85 (https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/84.85?lang=eng#84), (a compiling of scriptural revelations given to modern day prophets), that basically says that if you prepare with the Spirit, God will give you the words you need to teach. We were visiting a man, Brother Boerstler, who joined the church twenty-something years ago but has been inactive for a few years, except for a brief spurt in which his wife joined the church. She also slipped into inactivity. We were sitting on his screened in porch, just saying small talk, when he asked, "Well, what you got to teach me?" 

Immediately, I opened my scriptures and shared a verse with him I had studied that morning. It spoke of the Savior and His Atoning sacrifice, and the need to repent. When I looked up from reading the scripture, his countenance had changed. I could tell he'd felt the Spirit. He sincerely thanked me for sharing the scripture. A few minutes later, he walked us across the street to meet his neighbor, Miss Shirley. "These are the sisters from my church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. You should invite them over sometime!" He said. "They teach about the Book of Mormon. It's another testament of Jesus Christ. Have you read it?" He was a great member missionary! I know the Spirit helped me know what to say, so that the Spirit could testify to him. 

We had a slightly embarrassing, but pretty comedic moment with the boys in blue this week. I was on exchange with a new sister, and we were going into a Walgreens to make a quick stop. A young man next to a sales table stopped us outside, and we talked for about 25 minutes. He and his friend were recovering meth and drug addicts, among other crimes, there asking for donations for recovery programs. We had a good talk about favorite verses, and the Atonement...great, right? Then a police officer approached and, finding these men without a soliciting permit, told them he was calling other officers right then and they had better leave, etc. Wookay! We excused ourselves. That got awkward REAL quick. It gave us a good laugh later on! 

Please pray for Takisha. Takisha eagerly accepted a baptismal date of December 13th (my birthday!), but something came up and we've been out of contact for a few days. She has a bright light in her eyes and with her mother's recent death, she needs the gospel now more than ever in her life. 

Have a great week!

Sister Taylor

PS I don't know if I gave this out yet, but in case yall need it, send mail and delightful packages to:

Sister Taylor

4315 Lexington Rd Apt 6C

Athens, GA

30605